19 THE EARLS- Say the Word (1969)

We have to thank Polyphon Vienna for some of the most charming releases from the underbelly of the Schnitzelbeat era, as the label was among the few that saw young, local amateur bands as a potential source for revenue. With introducing the so-called Lohnpressung series in 1968, they opened a back door for groups that had no record contract, but nevertheless wanted their own release.

In effect, literally anyone (and their mom) could rent the Polyphon studio for an hour or two, tape whatever they pleased, and have the label send it off to the pressing plant. The size of the run was calculated according to how much money the group was willing to invest, and the deal was done. (Come to think, this marks the beginning of independent music production in Austria.) Appropriately for their status as one of the first local recording artists to ever put out a Lohnpressung, the Earls’ background remains an absolute mystery until today.